Pattern mechanism for knitting machines



May 20, 1969 of?A Sheet Filed Aug. 24, 1967 www ANN mw F mv ww Y ,Mmmm/SN NN mk wai@ hummm Nm.. w A1 MQ M I1I| fi! HU o n m QN 4 f n W, wk www F o M m. Q n. I .flu n M. f IVI. o um SN @MS Nw n S@ f\\ www w Nm mm, n r Nw May 20, 1969 LE ROY D, H|LL ET AL PATTERN MEGHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES v Sheac Filed Aug. 24, 1967 May 20, 1969 LE ROY D. HILL ET AL 3,444,705

PATTERN MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Sheet 3 of? Filed Aug. 24, 1967 May 20 1969 LE ROY D. Hm. ET AL 3,444,706

PATTERN MECHANISM FOR KNTTING MACHINES Sheet Filed Aug. 24, 1967 A 1g wmm, S NQ \\l/ QN km. O l- O Y am kmr o@ Mw; J if ,l IF s I m mmm. llFmllmulH..M Smvm mf HM I WUlPlnM May 20, 19.69 Le. ROY D. HILL. ETAL `3,44705 PATTERN MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 24, 19s? sheet 5 of 7 TL- E# FLE- `l `L May 20, 1969 LE ROY D, H|| ET Al.vk 3,444,706

PATTERN MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 24, 19s? sheet l6 of 7 May 2U, 1969 Y LE ROY D. HILL ET AL 3,444,706

PATTERN MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINESv Filed Aug. 24, 1967 i Sheet of 7 /376 /377 P30 @qu O [,J/ I k t@ im A o 47a Jaa 20 l. al 396 f 42/ 42e/25E 592 Ff-lge; 40A. 390 430 mavfazf 1- Ih l 406- 0^ 4/2 4/6 i :IL l 407 4/5 /M 455 V f 442 la-1 '4% 445 44/ United States Patent O 3,444,706 PATTERN MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Le Roy D. Hill, West Reading, and Robert M. Sanders, Reading, Pa., assignors, by mesne assignments, to North American Rockwell Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 24, 1967, Ser. No. 663,050 Int. Cl. D04b 15/70 U.S. Cl. 66-154 16 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The invention disclosed herein relates to straight bar or full-fashioned knitting machines for knitting flat fabric blanks and more particularly to pattern mechanism for controlling the operation of the various operating mechanisms of the machine in knitting and fashioning cycles and for instituting predetermined counting cycles to inactivate the pattern mechanism between operations of the operating mechanisms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of `the invention The invention is specifically directed to the pattern mechanism of a full-fashioned knitting machine for controlling various operating mechanisms of the machine in knitting cycles to form courses of flat fabric blanks and in fashioning cycles to fashion the selvages of the blanks, including pattern levers for operating the operating mechanism, a pattern element, indexing means for the pattern element, and selector levers controlled by the pattern element for instituting the operation of the pattern levers to one or more positions to operate the operating mechanism. The pattern mechanism also includes counting means, and control levers operated by the pattern element for setting up single counting cycles in the counting means to be followed by an operation of the indexing means to advance the pattern element, single counting cycles to be followed by an operation of the selector levers to institute the operation vof one or more of the operating mechanisms and an operation of the indexing means to advance the pattern element, and to repeat the counting cycles and, following operation of the selector levers, to institute the operation of one or more of the operating mechanisms a plurality of times before the indexing means is operated to advance the pattern element.

Description of the prior art Heretofore, pattern mechanism commonly provided on full-fashioned knitting machines such as shown in U.S. Patent 2,516,514, included a pattern chain having links for controlling the operation of various mechanisms of the machine required in the knitting cycles, and separate links for controlling the operation of the mechanisms required in fashioning cycles of the machine. Operation of the various mechanisms were instituted by pattern levers which in turn were operated by buttons on the chain and where a pattern lever required movement to several different positions to operate its associated mechanism buttons of different heights were provided on the chain to move the pattern lever to the different positions. The pattern mechanism of said Patent 2,516,514 also included chain link saver means in the form of a counting wheel which was activated from the chain and which inactivated the indexing means for the pattern chain for the same number of knitting cycles each counting cycle. However, unless the number of knitting cycles between the special machine functions and fashioning cycles was greater than the count on the counting wheel it was necessary to main- 3,444,706 Patented May 20, 1969 ice tain the counting wheel inactive and the chain in continuous operation. Hence, while the chain saver did reduce the length `of the chain to some extent the chains still remained excessively long and difficult to handle when replacing chains to change from one fabric style to another.

In order to eliminate the lengthy link type pattern chains, pattern mechanisms have been developed, such as shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,141,316 which includes a pattern element, indexing means for the pattern element, counting means, and control levers operated by the pattern member for setting up course counting cycles in the counting means with each of the counting cycles followed by an operation of the indexing means to advance the pattern member and to condition the counting means to repeat a counting cycle and a fashioning cycle of the machine following each course counting cycle a plurality of times before the indexing means is operated to advance the pattern member. The mechanism of said Patent 3,141,- 316 also includes another control lever operated by the pattern member, when the control levers are operated to set up the counting cycles in the counting means, to institute operation of a single control shaft for operating the various other operating mechanisms of the machine. xHence, the mechanism 0f this patent included a first pattern means for controlling counting cycles and fashionings and a second pattern means for controlling the other operating mechanisms of the machine with the second pattern means being controlled by the first pattern means.

Summary of the invention Brieiiy summarized the invention resides in the provision of pattern mechanism in a full-fashioned knitting machine including a pattern element, means controlled by the pattern element for instituting operation of varions operating mechanisms of the machine, counting means, means controlled by the pattern element for setting up single counting cycles in the counting means and for repeating such counting cycles a plurality of times while indexing means for the pattern element is inactivated, means which is controlled by counting means for operating the instituting means to cause the operation of the operating mechanisms following a counting cycle of the counting means and following each of the repeated counting cycles of the counting means, and means also controlled by the counting means for operating the indexing means to advance the pattern element following the 'single counting cycles and the plurality of counting cycles of the counting means.

Brief description of the drawings FI-G. 1 is a front elevationtal view of a portion of a full-fashioned knitting machine having pattern mechanism in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a view on an enlarged scale of the pattern mechanism shown in FIG.. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan View of the mechanism of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross ysectional view taken substantially along the line and in the direction of the arrows 4*-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to a portion of FIG. 4 but with the parts shown in different operating position relative to FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross `sectional view taken substantially along the line and in the direction of the arrows 6 6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken in the direction of the arrows 7--7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a view on an enlarged scale taken in the direction of the arrow 8 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a detail view taken substantially on the line and in the direction of the arrows 9-9 of FIG. 2;

FIG. is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially along the line and in the direction of the arrows 10-10 of FIG. 2, FIG. 10 being turned at right angles relative to FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is a detail view on an enlarged scale taken substantially along the line and in the direction of the arrows 11-11 of FIG. 3 with parts being broken away in order to show other parts more clearly;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 12-12 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a view on an enlarged scale taken substantially along the line and in the direction of the arrows 13-13 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 14 is a view diagrammatically illustrating an electrical control circuit for the pattern mechanism of the invention.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings there is shown portions of a full-fashioned knitting machine for knitting flat selvaged fabric blanks including center frames 10, a left end frame 11, a front beam 12, a back beam 15, a center bed 16 and a front bed 17. The beams and beds are secured to the center frames 10, and the end frame 11 and a similar frame at the right end of the machine to form the usual framework of the machine. Mounted for rotation in the end and center frames is a camshaft 20 which is conventionally provided with cams for operating the different mechanisms, required in knitting and fashioning the fabric blanks, with only a narrowing head mechanism 21, a mechanism 22 for shifting the camshaft between knitting and fashioning positions and a loose course mechanism 25 of the different mechanisms, being shown for purposes of illustration, in connection with pattern mechanism 26 according to the instant invention, adapted to control the operation of the different mechanisms. Only the means required to control mechanisms 22 and 25 is set forth in the following detailed description of the pattern mechanism 26 but it is to be understood that the pattern mechanism is adapted to control the operation of others of the different mechanisms in a like manner.

The left narrowing head mechanism 21 and a similar narrowing head mechanism at the right end of the machine are generally of the type shown in U.S. Patent 2,655,018, issued Oct. 13, 1953, and each includes a threaded spindle 27 for controlling the movement of narrowing rods 30 having points (not shown) to fashion the selvages of the fabric blanks and a threaded spindle (not shown herein) for controlling the endwise movement of yarn carrier rods 31 during both knitting and fashioning cycles of the machine. The mechanism 22 is of the conventional type, more fully set forth in U.S. Patent No. 2,516,514, issued July 25, 1950, for axially shifting the camshaft 20 between knitting and fashioning positions, and includes cams 32 and 33 on the camshaft, a follower 35 mounted on a shaft 36 which is axially movable in a bracket 37 carried on the front beam 12 to positions in which the follower acts on the cams to shift the camshaft to the knitting and fashioning positions and a latch member 40 for controlling the axial movement of the shaft and follower (FIGS. 1 and 3). The latch member 40 is operated by levers and links indicated generally atv 41, more fully shown and described in Patent No. 2,516,- 514, and the levers and links are in turn controlled and operated by a pattern lever 42 which is one of a group of similar pattern levers of the pattern mechanism 26 for controlling the operation of the various mechanisms of the machine.

The loose course mechanism 25, which is of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,140,472, issued Dec. 13, 1938, includes a lever 45 mounted 0n a regulating shaft 46, a series of different height buttons 47 on the lever and a rod 50 which is moved toward the left, as viewed in FIG. 1, to different positions to in turn move the 1e- .4 ver y45 and the different height buttons thereon into operating position to form different length loose courses required in the fabric blanks. The rod 50 is connected to and moved to its different positions by one of the pattern levers 42 in the manner hereinafter set forth. The rod 50 is one of a group of similar rods supported at their left ends in a bracket 55, carried on the bracket 37 (FIG. 9), and extending along the front of the machine for connection to the other operating mechanisms of the machine and each of the rods is connected to and operated by one of the pattern levers 42 similarly to the rod 50.

The latch member 40 and pattern levers 42 are pivotally mounted on a shaft 51 the opposite ends of which are carried in the bracket 37 and a bearing 52 secured to the bracket 55 (FIGS. 2 and 9). As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and l0 the pattern levers 42 are each provided with a nose piece 56 adapted t0 be acted on by arms 57 of one or more of a group of actuating levers 60 pivotally mounted on a shaft 61 also having its ends supported in the bracket 37 and the bearing member 52. Where a patter-n lever 42 is to be moved to only a single position to operate its associated mechanism only one of the actuating levers 60 to provided and the length of the arm 57 thereof is such as to move the pattern lever to the required position when the actuating lever is operated in the manner hereinafter set forth. Also the nose piece 56 on this pattern lever is only of a width to accommodate a single lever 60. On the other hand where the pattern lever 42 is to be moved to two or more different positions to operate its associated mechanism, such as the pattern lever for operating the mechanism 25 which requires four different operating positions, separate actuating levers 60 are provided to move the pattern lever to each position, with the nose piece 56 on the pattern lever having a width suicient to accommodate the actuating levers required and with the arms 57 on the actuating levers having different lengths to move the pattern lever to its different positions.

Normally the levers 60 are in an inactive position in which the arms 57 thereon are out of engagement with the nose pieces 56 on the pattern levers 42, as shown in FIG. 4, and the levers, when selected as hereinafter set forth, are positively operated to active positions to move the arms 57 thereon to engage and move the associated pattern lever to its required operating position. For moving the levers 60 between inactive and active positions each of the levers 60 is provided with a second arm 62 which is positioned between a surface 65 on a rib 66 connecting the upper ends of bearing portions 67 and 68, of an oscillating member 70, pivotally mounted on the shaft 61 at opposite sides of the group of levers 60, and a surface 71 on a rib 72 connecting the lower ends of the bearing portions 67 and 68 (FIG. 9). A spring 73 connected between an arm 74 on the bearing portion 68 and a fixed part of the machine tends to bias the oscillating member 70 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5.

An arm 75 also projecting from the bearing portion 68 is provided with a lowervsurface 76 for engagement with a free end portion 77 of one arm 78 of a lever 80 pivotally mounted on a stub shaft 81 carried in the bracket 37. A second arm 82 of the lever rotatably carries a roller type follower l85 adapted to engage a cam 186 on the camshaft 20. The cam 86 has a high surface 87, concentric lto the camshaft, which acts to turn the lever 80 clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 9, to move the oscillating lever 70 to its position of FIG. 5, and a low surface l90 which acts to limit the counterclockwise movement of lever 80` and the clockwise movement of the oscillating member 70 from the position of FIG. 5 to the position of FIG. 4 under theinliuence of the spring 73. Opposite ends of the low surface 90 are connected lby curved surfaces 91 and 92 to the high surface 87 of the cam 86. A third arm 95 on the lever 80 rotatably carries a roller follower 96 for engaging a cam bit 97 projecting from one side face on the cam 86, the cam bit acting on the follower 96 to turn lever 80 counterclockwise to maintain the lfollower 85 in engagement with the cam as it rides down the curve 91 from the high surface 87 to the low surface 90. Also during this counterclockwise movement of the lever 80 by the cam 'bit 97 the end portion 77 of the arm 78 is adapted to engage a pin 100 projecting from the bearing portion 68 to assist the spring 73 in turning the oscillating member 70 clockwise to move the levers 60 from active to inactive positions, in the manner hereinafter set forth.

Normally the cam 86 operates the lever 80 to turn the oscillating member 70 between the positions of FIGS. 4 and 5 without moving the levers 60 between inactive and active positions. In order to move the levers 60 from inactive to active positions to operate their associated pattern levers 42 each lever 60 has an associated rst member or lever 101 pivotally mounted on a rod or shaft 102 the opposite ends of which are supported in the bracket 37 and the bearing member 52. Each of the levers \101 has one arm 105 the free end of which is slotted to receive one end 106 of a member 107 for pivotal movement on a pin 110 carried in the arm. 'Ihe other end of the member 107, remote from the end 106, is rounded to provide a nose portion 111. The end 106 of the member 107 is biased into engagement with a wall 112 defining the upper end of the slot in the arm 105 by a spring 115 connected between the end 106 and the arm 105 to position the member 107 and arm in the relationship shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and the member is adapted to be rotated clockwise relative to the arm against the bias of the spring for purposes and in the manner hereinafter set forth.

The levers 101 are movable from inactive positions, determined by engagement of the arms 105 with a stop rod 116 carried in the bracket 37 and bearing plate 52 and in `which the nose portions 111 on the arms are out of the path of the surface 71 of the oscillating member 70, to active positions in which the nose portions are between the surface 71 and the arms 62 of the levers 60 whereby during movement of the oscillating member by the cam 86 the surface 71 acts through the nose portions to move the levers 60 from inactive positions to move the associated pattern levers to operating positions. For moving the levers 101 from inactive to active positions, each lever is provided with a second arm 117 having a nose 120 for engagement with a surface 121 on a selector lever 122. Each lever 101 is normally turned counterclockwise, as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5 to engage the nose 120 thereon with the surface 121 on its associated selector lever 122 by a spring 123 connected between the lever 101 and the selector lever. The selector levers 122 are pivotally mounted on a shaft 125 having one end supported in a bracket 126 secured to the front beam 12. Each of the selector levers 122 are provided with a pin 127 having a lower end 130 for reading engagement in openings 131 in a pattern element 132 (FIG. 7). As shown in FIG. 3 the pins 127 in alternate selector levers 122 are offset from the pins in the intervening selector levers with the pins in the alternate and intervening levers being adapted to read separate rows of openings 131 in the pattern element 132.

The selector levers 122 are moved to raised inactive positions, indicated in dot-and-dash outline in FIG. 4, in which ends 130 of the pins 127 are out of engagement with the pattern element 132 by one arm 135 of a lever 136, the arm 135 having a portion 137 underlying all of the levers 122. The lever 136 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 140 having its opposite ends supported in a bracket member 141 secured to the bracket 37 and a bracket member 142 secured to the bearing member 52 (FIGS. 2 and 3). A second arm 145 of lever 136 has its free end pivotally connected by a link 146 to a core member 147 of a solenoid 150 carried on a support portion 151 of the bracket 141. The solenoid 150 is energized,

by means of and in a manner hereinafter set forth, to turn the lever 136 to move the selector levers 122 to raised inactive positions. When the solenoid is de-energized a spring 152, connected between the arm of the lever 136 and a xed part of the machine, moves the lever counterclockwise to permit downward movement of the selector levers to reading engagement with the pattern element 132 under the influence of springs 155 connected between the selector levers and an anchor member 158 carried on a stop member 156 secured to the bracket members 141 and |142. When no openings 131 are provided in the pattern element beneath the levers 122 when they are moved downwardly from inactive position the levers merely come to rest on the pattern element without moving the levers 101. On the other hand, when openings 131 are provided in the pattern element beneath the levers 122, when they are moved downwardly, the ends 130 of the pins 127 in the levers enter the openings thereby permitting the selector levers to move the levers 101 clockwise toward their active positions. During the inital movement of the levers 101 toward their active positions by the selector levers '122 the oscillating member 70 is in its position of FIG. 5 as determined by the high surface 87 on the cam 86 and the movement of the levers 122 and 101 in momentarily arrested by engagement of the nose portions on the levers 101 with a surface 159 on the underside of the rib 72` on the oscillating member. Thereafter, during subsequent movement of the oscillating member 70 in the clockwise direction to the position of FIG. 4 under the influence of the low surface 90 of the cam 86 the levers 122 continue their downward movement until the surfaces 121 engage the stop member 156 and to move the nose portions 111 on the levers 101 into the path of the surface 71 to move the levers 60 to active positions when the oscillating member is again moved to the position of FIG. 5 by the high surface 87 of the cam. When it occurs that an opening is provided in the pattern element 132 beneath a selector lever 122 and the selector lever is inadvertently arrested to position the nose portion 111 of the associated lever 101 in the path of the corner defining the outer end of the surface 71 on the oscillating member 70 during movement in the counterclockwise direction, the oscillating member engages and rotates the member 107 relative t0 the arm 1=05 of the lever 10l1 without causing damage to the parts. Y

Following each downward movement of the selector levers 122 to reading engagement with the pattern element 132 to operate the levers 60 and associated pattern levers 42, as above set forth, the selector levers are again raised to inactive positions by the lever 136. At this time the oscillating member is again positioned as in FIG. 5 by the high surface -87 of the cam 86 and the nose portions 111 thereon remain between the surface 71 on the oscillating member and levers 60. Thereafter, when the oscillating member is again moved to the position of FIG. 4 by the loW surface 90 of the cam 86 the levers 101 are turned to their inactive positions against the stop 116.

Following each movement of the levers 60 to active position by the action of the selector levers 122, the levers 60 are again moved to inactive positions to inactivate the pattern levers -42 associated therewith. For this purpose, a second lever 157 is provided for each of the selector levers 122 and levers 60. The levers 157 are mounted for pivotal movement on a shaft 160 also carried in the bracket 37 and bearing member 52 and each lever 157 has a first arm 161, adapted to be moved between the surface 65 on the oscillating member 70` and the associated lever 60 when the oscillating member is in its position of FIG. 5, and a second arm 162 for engagement with the free end of the associated selector lever 122. A spring 1=65 connected between each lever 157 and a rod 166 supported in the bracket 317 and bearing member 52 tends to bias the lever 157 and arm 162 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 4 toward engagement with the free end of the lever 122. When the levers are held in raised inactive positions by the lever 136 or resting on the pattern element as herebefore set forth the end of the levers 122 acts through the arms 162 to turn the levers 157 counterclockwise to position the arms 161 in the path of the surface 65 on the oscillating member 70 in its position of FIG. and the oscillating member then acts through the arms 161 during movement to the position of FIG. 4 to move the associated levers 60 to inactive positions, if these levers were previously moved to active positions. However, when the selector levers are moved downwardly against the stop member 156, the springs 165 rotate the levers 157 to engage the arms 162 thereof with the ends of the selector levers and move clockwise to move the arms 1'61 out of the path of the surface 65 on the oscillating member during subsequent movement of the oscillating member as hereinafter set forth.

The pattern element 132 is in the form of an endless flexible band or card, of a synthetic material such as Mylar or the like, which is trained over an upper drum 167 rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 171 carried in the bracket 126 (FIGS. 3 and l1). The drum 167 is provided with spaced rows of openings 168 (FIG. 7) in the outer periphery thereof for receiving the ends 130 of the pins 127 in the levers 122 when the ends 130 enter openings 131 in the pattern element. The drum 167 is also provided with spaced sprocket portions 175, 176 and 177 having teeth for engaging in spaced lines of openings 180 in the patter element (FIG. 8) with the teeth in the sprocket portions and the openings 1,80 having a pitch equal to the spacing between the adjacent pairs of rows of openings 131 in the pattern element. The drum 167 is also provided with spaced toothed ratchet portions 181 and 182 with the teeth extending in the same direction and having the same pitch as the teeth in the sprocket portions 175, 176 and 177 and a portion 185 having V- shape notches 186 which also have the same pitch as the teeth in the sprocket and ratchet portions on the drum.

The teeth of the ratchet portion 181 are adapted to be engaged by a pawl 187 pivotally mounted on on arm 190 of a lever 191 which in turn is pivotally mounted on the stub shaft 171 between the ratchet portion 182 on the drum 167 and bracket 126. A spring 192 connected between the pawl 187 and arm 190, as shown in FIG. 11, normally biases the pawl into engagement with the ratchet portion 181. A spring 193 connected between the arm 190 of the lever 191 and a bracket 194, secured by screws 198 to the bracket 37, normally biases the arm against a stop member 199 on the bracket 194. The free end of the arm 190 is positioned in the path of movement of a surface 195 on a -member 196 carried on a rod 197 mounted for axial sliding movement in the bracket member 141 (FIG. 2) and brackets 200 and 201 carried on the front beam 12 (FIG. 1), the bracket 200y being one of the usual brackets provided on the front beam for supporting the rods 50. The member 196, which is secured to the rod 197 for movement therewith, is supported on rollers 203 rotatably mounted in the bracket 194. The rod 197 is provided with a pair of downwardly directed brackets 202 adapted to loosely receive a rounded free end 205 of one arm 206 of a lever 207 pivotally mounted on a stud 210 carried in a bracket 211 secured to the front beam 12 (FIGS. 1 and 12). A second arm 212 of the lever 207 is adapted to be engaged by one ar-m 215 of a lever 216 pivotally mounted on a stub shaft 217 also carried in the bracket 211. The lever 216 has a second arm 219 the free end of which carries a stud 220 for rotatably supporting a cam follower 221 for engagement with a cam 222 on the camshaft 20. The cam 222 has a low concentric surface 225, a rst rise 226 connecting the surface 225 to a surface 227 at an intermediate level, a second rise 230 connecting the surface 227 to a surface 231 at a high level and a surface 232 connecting the surface 231 to the surface 225 as shown in FIG. l2 and for purposes hereinafter set forth. A spring 228, connected between the arm 215 and bracket 211, biases the lever 216 and 8 follower 221 counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 12, to a stopped position, determined by engagement of a lug 226 on the lever 216 and a stop screw 227 adjustably carried in the bracket, in which the follower is at the level of the low surface 225 of the cam 222.

Normally the follower 221 is biased to a position out of the path of the cam 222, as shown in FIG. 1, by a spring 25, shown in dotted outline in FIG. 12, carried on the stud 220 `between the follower and arm 219 of the lever 216. The follower 221 is adapted to be shifted axially on the stud 220 into alignment with the cam 222 by a shift lever 236 carried on a shaft 240 pivotally mounted in a depending arm 241 of the bracket 211 and a bracket 242 secured to the back beam 15. A lever 245, also carried on the shaft 240, is pivotally connected by a link 246 to a core member 247 of a normally de-energized solenoid 250 mounted on the back beam 15. The solenoid 250 is energized, by means and in the manner hereinafter set forth, to operate the shaft lever 236 to shift the follower 221 into alignment with the cam 222, the cam then acting to operate the levers 216 and 207 to shift the rod 197 toward the right from a starting position, as viewed in FIGS. l and 11. During its movement to the right, the rod is moved rapidly as the follower 221 rides up the rise 226 to the surface 227 and then as the follower rides up the rise 230 to the high surface 231 the rod is moved at a slower rate as the face 195 on the member 196 engages and turns the arm and pawl 187 thereon counterclockwise to index the drum 167 a distance equal to one tooth of the ratchet portion 181. ,Following each movement of the rod 197 to the right to index the drum 167, the rod is moved toward the left to its starting position of FIG. l1 determined by engagement of the arm 212 of the lever 207 with the arm 215 of the lever 216 in the stopped position of the latter lever by a spring 251 connected between one of the brackets 202 and the bracket 200 on the front beam 12 (FIG. l), and the lever 191 is turned clockwise by the spring 193 to move the arm 190 against the stop member 199 to position the pawl 187 for its next indexing movement.

The teeth of the ratchet portion 182 are adapted to be engaged by a stop pawl 252 pivotally mounted on a stud 255 carried in the bracket 126. A pin 256 mounted for axial movement in the pawl 252, has an enlarged head 257 for engagement with a portion of the bracket 126 and a spring 260 carried on the pin between the head and pawl, normally biases the pawl toward engagement with the ratchet portion 182. A second arm 261 of the lever 191 normally holds the pawl 252 out of engagement with the ratchet portion 182 when the lever 191 is in its position of FIG. 11 and the arm 261 is moved from beneath the pawl 252 thereby permitting the pawl to engage a tooth of the ratchet portion 182 during movement of the lever 191 in the counterclockwise direction to limit the indexing movement of the drum 167 by the pawl 187. The notches 186 in the portion 185 on the drum 167 are adapted to be engaged by a V-shaped end 262 of a detent member 265 mounted for axial movement in a bearing portion 266 of the bracket 126. A spring 267 in the bearing portion between the detent member 265 and a stop screw 270 in the bearing portion maintains the end 262 of the detent member in resilient engagement with the notches 186 to prevent inadvertent movement of the drum 167 during resetting movements of the pawl 187.

The free portion of the pattern element 132 is loosely supported in a container 271 carried on a bracket 273 secured to the front beam 12 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The pattern element, as it is withdrawn from the container 271 by the indexing movements of the drum 167, passes over a guide pin 272 supported in the container and over the right side of a second drum 275, as shown in FIG. 13, mounted for free rotation on a stub shaft 276 also carried in the bracket 126. The drum 275 is the same diameter as drum 167 and has a sprocket portion 277 with teeth having the same pitch as the teeth of sprocket 175, 176 and 177 on the drum 167 the teeth being positioned to engage the same row of openings 180 in the pattern element as the sprocket portion 176. Rollers 280, rotatably mounted on a lever 281 secured to a pin 282 pivotally mounted in a bracket 283 secured to the container 271, are biased toward the drum 276 by a spring 285, connected between the lever 281 and a xed stud 286, to press the pattern element into engagement with the drum 275 at opposite sides of the sprocket portion 277 and to engage the openings 180 with the teeth of the sprocket portion 277. The spring 285 is connected to the lever 281 in a manner to provide an over the center action whereby the lever may be moved to and held in inactive position to faciliate removal and replacement of the pattern element. The drum 275 is rotated by the pattern element during indexing movements of the drum 167 and provides drag or tension in the pattern element to maintain it in close contact with the drum 167 for presentation to the selector levers 122.

From the drum 167 the pattern element 132 passes over the left side of the drum 275 and from the latter back to the container 271. In order to maintain the openings 180 in the pattern element in driving engagement with the teeth of the sprocket portion 277 at the left side of the drum 275, the pattern element at opposite sides of the sprocket portions is adapted to be engaged at a point intermediate the drums 167 and 277 by take-up roller 287 rotatably mounted on the free end of one arm 290 of a lever 291. The lever 291 is pivotally mounted on a pin 292 carried in a bracket 295 secured to the container 271. Rollers 296, adapted to engage and press the pattern element at opposite sides of the sprocket portion 277 against the drum 275 adjacent the lower side thereof, are rotatably mounted on the free end of one arm 297 of a lever 300 also pivotally mounted on the pin 292 in the bracket 295. The levers 291 and 300 are provided with second arms 301 and 302, respectively, which are connected to each other by a spring 305, the spring acting to turn the levers to maintain the rollers thereon in resilient engagement with the pattern element between the drums and to resiliently press the pattern element against the drum 275. The arm 301 of the lever 291 has a surface 306 for engagement with a high surface 307 on a cam member 310 secured to a rod 311 pivotally mounted in the bracket 295, and the arm 302 of the lever 300 is also provided with a surface 312 for engagement with a high surface 316 of a cam member 317 also secured to the rod 311. The rod 311 and low surfaces on the cam members 310 and 317 are normally positioned to permit movement of the levers 291 and 300 and the rollers thereon into engagement with the pattern element, as above set forth, and the rod and cam members are rotated to engage the high surfaces on the cam members with the arms 301 and 302 on the levers 291 and 300 respectively, to move these levers to inactive positions when one pattern element is to be removed and replaced by another.

The drum 167 is adapted to be manually rotated to reset the pattern element to starting position and to insure that the pattern element is properly engaged with the drums 167 and 275 following removal and replacement of the pattern elements. For this purpose the drum 167 carries a gear wheel 317 having meshing engagement with a gear wheel 320 secured to a stub shaft 321 rotatably mounted in a bracket 322 supported on and secured to the free ends of the stub shafts 171 and 276 (FIGS. 1 and 2). At its outer end the stub shaft 321 carries a nut 325 for receiving a removable handle or other suitable means to manually rotate the gear wheels 317 and 320, When the drum 167 is to be manually rotated the pawls 187 and 252 are adapted to be inactivated by cam Surfaces 326 and 327, respectively, on a member 330 rotatably carried on the drum 167 between the ratchet portions 181 and 182. The member 330 has a handle 331 by means of which the member is moved from an inactive position, determined by engagement of the handle with a stop member 332 on the bracket 126, as shown in FIG. 1l, to an active position in which the cam surfaces on the member inactivate the pawls 187 and 252.

The solenoid 250 for controlling the operation of the pawl 187 to index the drum 167 and pattern element 132, as above set forth, is in an electrical operating circuit, to be hereinafter described, which is under the control of control levers 335 also pivotally mounted on the shaft (FIGS. 3 and 6). The control levers 335 are each provided with a pin 127 adapted to read the rows of openings 131 in the pattern element 132 with the pins in alternate and intervening control levers being offset relative to each other similarly to the pins in the levers 122. The levers 335 are normally maintained in a fully lowered active position in which the free ends of the levers rest on a stop surface 336 on a bracket 337 supported on the bracket member 142 when the pins 127 encounter openings 131 in the pattern element or in an intermediate position in which the levers rest on the pattern element when no openings are provided in the pattern element.

The control levers 335, which are biased to their fully lowered and intermediate positions by springs 340 connected between the levers and an anchor member 341 secured to the bracket 337 (FIG. 6), are moved to a raised inactive position indicated in dot-and-dash outline FIG. 6 by one arm 342 of a lever 345 also pivotally mounted on the shaft 140, The lever 345 has a second arm 346 which is pivotally connected by a link 347 to one arm 350 of a lever 351 pivotally mounted on a shaft 352 carried in a depending arm 355 of the bracket 142 (FIG. 2). A roller follower 356, rotatably mounted on the free end of a lever 357 secured on shaft 352, is adapted to be biased into engagement with low and high surfaces 360 and 361, respectively, on the member 196 by a spring 362 connected between the arm 357 and the bracket 194, as shown in FIGS. 2 and l1. When the member 196 and rod 197 are in the starting positions of FIG. ll, the follower 356 on the arm 357 is in engagement with the low surface 360 on the member 196 to position the lever 351 and lever 345 as shown in FIG. 6 to permit the levers 335 to assume their fully lowered or intermediate positions as above noted. Thereafter, when the solenoid 250 is energized to cause the cam 222 to move the member 196 and rod 197 toward the right to operate the pawl 187 and index the drum 167 and pattern element 132, the high surface 361 on the member 196 is moved beneath the follower 356 to operate the levers 351 and 345 to move the levers 335 to their raised inactive positions, this action occurring before the member 196 engages the lever 191 to move the pawl through its indexing movement, as hereinbefore set forth. While the lever 345 is positioned to inactivate the levers 335 a set screw 365, carried in the lever 345, engages the arm 135 of the lever 136 to prevent inadvertent movement of the latter lever from the position in which it inactivates the selector levers 122 While the drum 167 is being indexed.

In addition to the levers 136 and 345 for moving the selector levers 122 and control levers 335, respectively, to raised inactive positions as above set forth, the levers 122 are adapted to be retained in inactive positions and the levers 335 are moved to raised inactive positions independently of the lever 345 by a manually operated cam member 366 pivotally supported in the brackets 141 and 142 beneath the levers when the drum 167 and pattern element is to be manually operated as hereinbefore set forth.

As shown in FIG. 6 alternate control levers 335 are provided with short downwardly projecting arms'367 for engagement with the operating buttons of an upper bank of normally open micro-switches supported on a bracket 370 secured to the bracket 126 and the intervening control levers are provided with long downwardly projecting arms 371 for engagement with the operating buttons of a lower bank of similar normally open micro-switches also supported on the bracket 370.

The micro-switches and the solenoids 150 and 250 are connected into an electrical operating circuit, shown diagrammatically in FIG. 14 including main conductors or buses 375 and 376 connected to a single phase source of electrical energy. The bus 376 is connected to a lead 377 which is in turn connected through a group of the normally open micro-switches, indicated at 380, to a conventional counting device diagrammatically shown at 381 which is of the Binary Coded Decimal System type, the switches 380 being adapted to be closed by a corresponding group of the control levers 335 to set up course counting cycles equal to the full counting capacity of the counting device or to s'et up course counting cycles followed by the operation of one or more of the pattern levers 42 to institute a fashioning or other machine function in the manner hereinbefore set forth, while the solenoid 250 is inactivated to idle the pattern mechanism. The circuit from bus 376 through lead 377, switches 380 and counting device 381 is completed through a lead 378 to the bus 375. The lead 377 is also connected through another group of the normally open micro-switches, indicated at 382, to a conventional counting device diagrammatically shown at 385, which is also of the Binary Coded Decimal System type similar to the counting device 381, the switches 382 being adapted to be closed -by a corresponding group of the control levers 335 to set up counting cycles in which the same course counting cycle of the counting device 381 is repeated a plurality of times with each counting cycle of device 381 being followed by a fashioning or other machine function while the solenoid 250 is inactivated to idle the pattern mechanism. The counting devices 381 and 385 may be of the type in which the count is increased by ones to obtain the total count set up therein and then reset to zero or may be of the type in which the total count is setup therein and then reduced by ones to zero. Hence, where reference is made hereinafter to reduction of the count to zero, it is to be understood to mean the count is changed by ones to complete the total count setup in the counting devices after which they are returned to zero condition before another counting cycle is setup therein.

The lead 377 is also connected to the counting device 381 through a normally open switch 386 and a normally closed contactor 387 of a switch or 'relay 390, the switch 386 being closed lby a cam 391 on the camshaft to reduce the count `set up in the counting device 381 'by the control levers 335 and switches 380, by one each rotation of the camshaft. The contactor 387 is carried on a core member 39-2 of the relay 390 which is operated by a coil 395. The switch 386 is .also connected through a normally open contactor 396 of the relay 390, when this contactor is closed, :as hereinafter :set forth, to the counting device 385 to reduce the count set up in the counting device 385, by the control levers and switc-hes 382, by one during each rotation of the camshaft. The coil 395 is in an operating circuit including the lead 377, a second switch or relay 397 having a normally open contactor 400, a third relay 401, and a normally open contactor 402 of the relay 401 through the coil 395 to a lead 405 connected to the bus 375.

The contactor 400 of the relay 397 is carried on a core member 406 which operated by a coil 407. The coil 407 is in an operating circuit including a lead 410 connected vbetween the zero side of the counter 381 .and one side of the coil and a lead 411 connecting the other side of the coil and the lead 405. The contactor 402 of the third relay 401 is carried on a core member 412 which is operated by a coil 415. The coil 415 is in an operating circuit including a lead 416 connected between the counting device 385 and one side of the coil 415 and a lead 417 connected between the other yside of the coil and the lead 405. IThe circuit through leads 416 and 417 and coil 415 is energized when any of the switches 382 are closed to set up a counting cycle in the device 38'5.

The core 147 of the solenoid 150 is operated by a coil 420 which is in an operating circuit including a lead 421 connected t-o the lead 377, a normally closed contactor 422 on the core member 392 of the relay 390, a lead 425 connected between `relay 390 and one side of the operating coil 420 of the solenoid and a lead 426 connecting the other side of the coil to the lead 405. The circuit through relay 390 to the solenoid is opened when the contactor 422 is moved to open position as hereinafter set forth. The core member 247 yof the solenoid 250 is operated by .a coil 427 which is in -a rst operating circuit including the relay 397, a normally closed contactor 430 on the core member 412 of relay 401, a lead 431 connecting the relay 401 and one side of the coil 427 of the solenoid 250 and a lead 432 connecting the other side of the coil 427 and the lead 405. The coil of the solenoid 250 is also in a second operating circuit including the lead 377a normally open contactor 435 on a core member 436 of a switch or relay 437, -a normally open contactor 440 on the core member 412 of the rel-ay 401 and the lead 431. The core member 436 is operated to close the contactor 435 by a coil 441 which is in an operating circuit including a lead 442 connecting the zero side of the counting device 385 and the coil and a lead 445 connecting the other side of the coil to the lead 405.

When the counting device 381 is to tbe operated t0 count a plurality -of courses which are not to be followed by a special machine function, the appropriate ones or all of the switches 380 are closed by the control levers 335 to set up the counting cycle. At this time the circuit from the zero `side of the counter 381 through lead 410 and coil 407 is open to mtaintain the contactor 400 of yrelay l397 open and the circuit from the counting device 385 through the coil 415 is open, since there is no count set up in counting device 385, to maintain contactors 402 and 440 of the relay 401 open and the contactor 430 of the relay 401 closed. Also at this time the circuit through the coil 395 is open through the open contactors 400 and 402 of the relays 397 and 401, respectively, to maintain the contactor 396 of relay 390v open and to maintain the contactors 387 `and 422 of relay 390 closed, and the circuit through the coil 441 is open, since no count is set up in the counting device 38'5, to maintain the contactor 435 open. Thereafter the circuit through switch 386 :and the closed contactor 387 is closed to reduce the count in the counting device 381 each rotation of the camshaft 20. When the count in the counting device 381 Ireaches zero, the circuit through lead 410 and the coil 407 is closed to operate the relay 397 to close the circuit through the contactor 400 of relay 397 and the closed contactor 430 of relay 401 to the coil 427 to operate the solenoid 250 thereby instituting an operation of the indexing means for the pattern mechanism.

When a counting cycle of the counting device 381 is to be followed by a single special machine function and then an operation of the indexing means for the pattern mechanism the appropriate switches 380 are closed by the control levers 335 to set up the desired count in the counting-device 381 and the switch 382 associated with the one counter of the counting device 385 is closed by the control lever associated therewith to energize the coil 415 to operate the relay 401 to close the contactors 402 and 440 and open the contactor 430. At this time the circuits for the coils of relays 390, 397 and 437 remain open to position the contactors thereof as during a counting cycle of the counting device 381, :as above set forth. When the count in the counting device 381 reaches zero, the circuit to coil 407 is closed to operate the relay `397 to close the contactor 400. Since the contactor 402 of relay `401 is closed at this time the circuit through the coil 395 is energized to operate the relay 390 to open the cont-actor 387 to open the counting circuit through switch 386 to the counting device 381, to close the contactor 396 and close the circuit through the switch 386 to the counting device 385 to remove the one count set up therein, :and to open the contactor 422 to open the circuit to the coil 420 of the solenoid 150 to permit the actuating levers to be lowered thereby instituting operation of the pattern lever :associated with the machine function desired. When the single count set up in the counting device 385 is reduced to zero, the circuit from device 385 through the coil 441 is closed to operate the relay 437 and close the contacter 435. Since the contactor 440 of the -relay 401 is closed at this time, closing the contactor 435 energizes the circuit to the coil 42-7 of the solenoid 250 to institute an operation of the indexing means for the pattern mechanism as hereinbefore set forth.

When a counting cycle of the counting device 381 is to be repeated and each repeated counting cycle is to be followed by a special machine function such as a fashioning, the appropriate switches 380 are closed to set up the desired count in the counting device 381 and the appropriate switches 382 are closed to set up the repeat cycle in the counting device 385. The condition of the relays 390, 397, 401 and 437 are the same as above set forth in connection with a counting cycle of the counting device 281 which is to be followed by a single special machine function. Following each reduction of the counting cycle in the counting device 381 to zero, the relays 390 and 397 are operated to close the counting circuit to the counting device 385 and to open the circuit to the coil 420 of the solenoid 150 to permit the selector levers 122 to be lowered to institute an operation of the pattern lever associated with the machine function required. Since the circuit through the coil 441 remains open to inactivate the indexing means for the pattern mechanism until the count in the counting device 385 is reduced to zero, the closed switches 380 reset the count in the counting device 381 which again opens the circuits to the coils of the relays 390 and 397 until the count in counting device 381 again is reduced to zero. Following reduction of the count in the counting device 385 to zero the various relays are conditioned as above set forth to institute operation of the indexing means for the pattern mechanism.

During each operation of the solenoid 250 to institute an operation of the indexing means for the pattern mechanism, the control levers 335 are raised to inactive position to permit the pattern mechanism to be indexed after which the control levers are again lowered for reselection by the pattern mechanism to set up the desired count in one or in both counting devices.

Where a plurality of special machine functions such as fashioning cycles are to be successively instituted between plain knitting cycles of the machine, as in the formation of multi-dip lace patterns, only the switches 382 are closed to set up the desired fashioning cycles in the counting device 385. Since no count is set up in the counting device 381 the circuit through the coil 407 of the relay 397 remains closed to in turn close the circuit through the coil 395 of the relay 390. This conditions the circuit through switch 386 and relay 390 to the counting device 385 to reduce the count therein when the switch 386 is closed by the cam 391 and closes the circuit through the relay 390 to open the circuit to the solenoid 150 to maintain the selector lever or levers 122 instituting the successive fashioning cycles in lowered position. The indexing means for the pattern mechanism is then operated following the last count of the counting device 385 as above set forth.

It will be understood that the improvements specifically shown and described by which the above results are obtained, can be changed and modied in various ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

We claim:

1. In a knitting machine for knitting at selvaged fabric blanks, said machine having a rotary camshaft, means for shifting said camshaft between knitting and fashioning positions, at least one other operating mechanism on said machine, and pattern levers for operating said camshaft shifting means and said other operating mechanism, the improvement comprising pattern means for operating said pattern levers including actuating levers movable from inactive positions to active positions to operate said pattern levers, means for moving said actuating levers from inactive to active positions including an oscillating member, means for moving said oscillating member in opposite directions, lirst members, means for moving said rst members from inactive positions to active positions between said oscillating member and said actuating levers in said inactive positions whereby movement of said oscillating member in one of said opposite directions operates said first members to move said actuating levers from inactive to active positions, and second members movable from inactive positions to active positions between said oscillating member and said actuating levers in said active positions whereby movement of said Oscillating member in the other of said opposite directions operates said second members to move said actuating levers to inactive positions.

2. In a machine according to claitn 1 in which said means for moving said lirst members from inactive to active positions includes a pattern element, selector levers, means for moving said selector levers from inactive positions to active positions for selection by said pattern element, and means for moving said selector levers from said active positions to said inactive positions, said selector levers when selected by said pattern element acting to move said first members to active positions.

3. In a machine according to claim 2 in which there is means for moving said second members to inactive positions when said selector levers are selected by said pattern element, and means for moving said second members to active positions, said last mentioned means including said selector levers and said means for moving said selector levers to inactive positions.

4. In a machine according to claim 3 in which there is at least one of said actuating levers associated with each of said pattern levers, and there is one of said first members, one of said second members and one of said selector levers for controlling the movement of said actuating lever by said oscillating member between said active and inactive positions.

5. In a machine according to claim 4 in which there is a plurality of said actuating levers associated with at least one of said pattern levers with each of said plurality of actuating levers being adapted to move said pattern lever to a different operating position, and there is one of said rst members, one of said second members and one of said selector levers for controlling the movement of each of said plurality of actuating levers by said oscillating member between said active and inactive positions.

6. In a machine according to claim 5 in which said pattern means includes counting means, control levers selectively controlled by said pattern element for setting up counting cycles of predetermined extent in said counting means, means for moving said control levers from inactive positions to active positions for selection by said pattern element, and means for moving said control levers from said active positions to said inactive positions.

7. A machine according to claim 6 in which said means for moving said selector levers from said active to inactive positions includes a lever, and means controlled by said counting means for operating said lever.

8. In a machine according to claim 7 in which there is indexing means for advancing said pattern element including pawl and ratchet means, means for operating said pawl and ratchet means, and means for controlling the operation of said operating means for said pawl and ratchet means.

9. In a machine according to claim 8 in which said operating means for said pawl and ratchet means includes a cam on said camshaft and said means for controlling the operation of said operating means for said pawl and ratchet means includes said counting means.

10. In a machine according to claim 9 in which said means for moving said control levers from active to inactive positions includes said operating means for said pawl and ratchet means.

11. In a machine according to claim 6 in which there is indexing means for advancing said pattern element including pawl and ratchet means, common means for operating said means for moving said control levers from said active to said inactive positions and for operating said pawl and ratchet means, and means for controlling the operation of said common means.

12. In a machine according to claim 11 in which said means for controlling the operation of said common means includes said counting means.

13. In a machine according to claim 8 in which said pattern element comprises an endless band having rows of pattern openings for presentation to said selector levers and said control levers, and there is means for supporting said endless band including a first drum over which one end of said endless band is trained for presentation to said selector levers and said control levers, teeth on said rst drum for engaging index openings in said band, and container means for receiving the other end of said endless band, said first drum being operated by said indexing means to withdraw said band from said container and advance said band for presentation of said pattern openings therein to said selector and control levers and to return said band to said container after presentation to said selector and control levers.

14. In a machine according to claim 13 in which there is means for tensioning said endless band between said rst drum and said container, said tensioning means including a second drum, means for rotatably mounting said second drum, teeth on said second drum for engaging said index openings in said band, and a first means for pressing said band against said second drum to engage said teeth thereon with said index openings as said 'band is withdrawn from said container, said second drum being rotated by said band during indexing movement of said rst drum to advance said band.

15. In a machine according to claim 14 in which there is take-up means for engaging Said band between said first and second drums after presentation to said selector and control levers, and a second means for pressing said band against said second drum, said take-up means and said second means acting on said band to engage said teeth on said second drum with said index openings in said band whereby said second drum acts during rotation by said band, to return said band to said container as said band is advanced by said first rum.

16. In a machine according to claim 6 in which said pattern element comprises an endless band having rows of pattern openings for presentation to said selector levers and said control levers, and there is means for supporting said endless band including a rst drum over which one end of said endless band is trained, teeth on said lrst drum for engaging index openings in said band, a container for receiving the other end of said endless band, a second drum between said first drum and said container over which said band is trained, teeth in said second drum for engaging in said index openings in said band, and there is means for indexing said first drum to advance said endless band to present said rows of holes to said selector and control levers, said endless band acting during advancing movements by said rst drum to rotate said second drum to withdraw said band from said container for presentation to said selector and control levers and to return said band to said container after presentation to said selector and control levers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,057,043 10/ 1936 Mutchler et al. 66-154 2,324,221 7/1953 Luhn 66-155 XRl 2,439,990 4/ 1948 Ryan 66-155 2,516,514 7/1950 Haehnel 66-155 3,141,316 7/ 1964 McCarthy et al. 66-154 3,287,936 11/1966 Bentley et al 66-82 RONALD FELDBAUM, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 66-155 

